Well you’ve got alot of responses...all of which are things the dealer would check in the first 5 minutes.
Either you have the most perplexing problem in automobile history, or your dealer hasn’t looked at the car yet.
BTW, if this is the most car anxiety you’ve had in a lifetime of ownership, you have bought some very good cars, and taken very good care of them.
I do believe it is either a steering hose or pump that burst a leak. Since you are doing business with the dealer, you should proceed with caution.
If you blew a hose, he may tell you that you need a new pump, since it might have ran dry and been damaged. I would say no to that and take my chances.
If you blew a hose, he may tell you that your belts are contaminated with fluid and need replaced. Again, I would aggressively say no to that.
If the belt or pump spewed all over the alternator, he may tell you that needs replaced. Depending on how bad it looks, that might be legitimate...but if the car starts and runs without the check battery light coming on, I wouldn’t replace that either.
With all of these things, the dealer may tell you that you risk a firy death if you ignore him. If this worries you, drive directly from his shop to an auto detail place, and have them clean the engine.
Also, you may be told about contaminated CV boots and steering bellows...again I would not replace these and just get everything cleaned real well.
My guess is that it’s a leak or broken hose, whenever I’ve
had a bearing seize (water pump, power steering or alternator) there has been a loud screech then a bang when the belt broke.